Followers: Where do they help most?

A question that I often wonder is what I chould use my follower to help me with. I have heard most people use the templar for MF, while they use the enchantress specced for max dps. I myself have been using the scoundrel with my WD for freezing monsters at higher MP when I farm the keys for infernal machine.

But my question is what the different followers can help us with for example if the MF boost is a huge different, och if the damage you follower do makes that big a different. Would also know if it is possible to spec you follower for extra xp. I counted on it and noticed that you can get around 20 extra xp per mob with follower geared for that, would that make a differens for example?

Do the follower also give you any of their other stats then mf, gf and xp?

Dunno actually. I use the Enchantress for MF and armor buff but have found myself going solo after a few uber runs when I forget to hire her back. This thread might help me gleen some info for making more use of them.

I use my Scoundrel primarily, equipped it with a windforce with high knockback chance, works wonders in small passages and narrow hallways, like Keep in act3 and caves in other acts. Most of the time i'm able to stand in one spot and nuke cause elites just get knocked back. This vs. 30 'ish% more mf from a templar/enchantress feels good to me. Especially since mf from followers isn't suppose to add to the cap, as far as i know. At the same time, if you are capped on mf, i dont think 30% is going to make much of a difference on drops compared to the speed you kill packs with the additional knockback(if you are using scoundrel, otherwise cc).
But that's just my oppinion, feel free to make your own, hehe.

It all comes down what mp you are playing i guess... For xp speedfarming on low mp i would lean towards scoundrel (the cc buff makes you kill mobs little faster)... If you are keyfarming on higher mp i lean towards echantress. And if you are happy with your gear and you can farm the mp of you choosing you can pick up the templar for the xtra mf i guess...

I think it depends on your class also.
As a barb, i feel that the scoundrel is the best due to 3% crit - barbs like crits.
..but i do not like the scoundrel, so i am running MF enchantress with Hellfire ring - it gives additional exp, armor buff, and 3% haste.

Don't go for +xp items, it's worth nothing for paragon. It just doesn't scale and since each kill gives you a couple of thousand XP, the +3 from one item (+14 divided by 5) is absolutely nothing.

1) Put a Hellfire Ring on them. 7% more XP is nice. Best Hellfire Rings are those with stats like MF/GF, vit/life%, allres, and IAS (if you're using Scoundrel, see below).
2) If you're super rich, you can also give them a Leoric's Signet.
3) Some of them need to be alive for their buffs, some don't; I think the enchantress needs to be alive for the +IAS buff. Therefore, +vit, life%, allres and other EHP stats are really crucial - don't just buy blue +20% MF rings. Also, since the follower items can't roll anything good and the follower's DPS is basically useless, go for a high vit one.
4) For templar, Sunkeeper is probably by far the best weapon; allows for highest MF (even more than enchantress with Grand Vizier).
5) For scoundrel, a Buriza Canon with Star of Azkaranth amulet will freeze everything (look for high freeze chance and high piercing values). You want IAS on your rings in addition to EHP and MF stats, then.
6) For enchantress, there are two options: go full MF with Grand Vizier or get a Maximus if you need a tank.
7) Don't use the armor buff on enchantress, it's useless since 1.05; the other passive (-6% ranged damage) is better in the long run.
8) Although the templar seems to be better than the enchantress because it can have 4% MF more, the enchantress is probably the better overall choice because its abilities are not completely useless (-6% ranged damage and +3% IAS). The templar is worse than Maximus as a tank and the regeneration/heal abilities are a joke. But of course, it's a matter of personal preference.

3) Some of them need to be alive for their buffs, some don't; I think the enchantress needs to be alive for the +IAS buff. Therefore, +vit, life%, allres and other EHP stats are really crucial - don't just buy blue +20% MF rings. Also, since the follower items can't roll anything good and the follower's DPS is basically useless, go for a high vit one.

I agree followers should be able to stay alive and EHP stats are high on the list, but i wouldn't say the dps of a scoundrel is -useless-.
Mine has 16k dps (67k hp) with only the items i have found myself and a STR hellfire. He doesnt even have any AS. I know most ppl don't care about it, but it actually makes a difference for some players that have either a fresh char or simply are not geared well. I have a feeling with 1m gold i could get his dps above 20k.

With lot of gold u can go pretty high. Follower tokens can roll 300 or more main stat and 100% CHD. 22% CHC from jewelry, some AS and a high dps weapon would work very well. This is not my point though, i jsut wanted to point out decent dps on a very low budget for scoundrel.

edit: this is about scoundrel only. Templar has no dps and enchantress is doing half scoundrels dmg.

As a CM wiz, the scoundrel is pure magic! The extra crit do help alot!

So do the 3% IAS. It depends on what you're looking for. If you're close to a breakpoint, the 3% IAS make a huge difference. And although crit usually gives you a bit more DPS than IAS, the enchantress has other nice advantages (has a second useful ability, can carry Grand Vizier). It's really a matter of personal preference.

Some good info here. From the sounds of it, I have my Enchantress set up right. I do get a boost to my MF and the IAS is helpful. Might try the scoundrel too from the info I have heard here. I happen to have a windforce sitting around so I might give it a try.

Some good info here. From the sounds of it, I have my Enchantress set up right. I do get a boost to my MF and the IAS is helpful. Might try the scoundrel too from the info I have heard here. I happen to have a windforce sitting around so I might give it a try.

Sounds like you got the info you wanted, GL with trying out the different things

If you are using the Scoundrel and he doesnt have a 10%+ freeze and 60%+ pierce Buriza then you are playing the game wrong. Also that amulet with Stun is money as well

Don't be so narrow-minded. There is no "right" or "wrong", just different. Thankfully, there are many different ways to play Diablo 3. For example, If you're a CMWW wizard and you just want the Scoundrel for the crit chance, you don't need the freeze at all.